<article><p class="lead">Australian utility and gas firm Origin Energy will carry out a A$3.2mn ($2.3mn) feasibility study into building a 420,000 t/yr export-oriented green hydrogen and ammonia plant in Tasmania.</p><p>The feasibility study is expected to be completed by December 2021, with first production of green ammonia targeted for the mid-2020s if the project is approved. Some of the hydrogen produced will be made available domestically to support Tasmania's decarbonisation goals, Origin said.</p><p>The planned facility at Bell Bay in northern Tasmania will be fueled by a 500MW hydropower plant. </p><p>Separately, Australian mining firm Fortescue Metals said it is also considering building a 250MW green hydrogen plant at Bell Bay with the capacity to produce 250,000 t/yr of green ammonia, powered by renewable energy. </p><p>The project would be an important step towards positioning Australia at the forefront of a bulk export market for green hydrogen, Fortescue said.</p><p>The Tasmanian state government has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Most of the state's electricity is already generated from hydropower. </p><p>Australia already has several planned green hydrogen and ammonia projects. Fertilizer producer Incitec Pivot's is considering building a green ammonia and hydrogen plant at its Moranbah ammonia facility in Queensland, Norwegian fertilizer group Yara and French energy firm Engie are studying a similar plant at Yara's Pilbara facility in Western Australia, while Queensland Nitrates – a joint venture between Incitec and Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers – is studying a green ammonia and hydrogen plant in Queensland.</p><p>Potential uses for hydrogen and ammonia include electricity generation and transportation, while ammonia is also used in fertilizers.</p><p>Green hydrogen and ammonia are produced from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, while brown or blue hydrogen is made from fossil fuels such as coal and gas. </p><p class="bylines">By Kevin Morrison</p></article>
